Mold for concrete walls or the like



Feb. 8, 193 8.

A J. SCHWARZLER I 2,107,427

MOLD FOR CONCRETE WALLS 0R THE'LIKE Filed April 25, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY azlgENToRo Patented. F eb. 8, 1938 STATES ATEN T OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in molds for concrete walls or the like, and relates more particularly to mold structures of the fabricated type which may be re- 5 peatedly dismantled and reassembled for further use on many different jobs.

An important object of the invention is the provision of molds which may be assembled and set up with a minimum expenditure of labor and a consequent economy in concrete construction work.

Another object is the provision of molds, component parts of which are of suitable sizes and weights to permit the convenient erection of the molds and their economical transportation from one job to another.

A further object is the provision of mold parts having portions arranged to facilitate handling thereof in relatively inaccessible positions, whereby to simplify the work of erecting and dismantling the forms.

These and other objects may be achieved by my invention as described in the following specification and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective View of two side mold sections according to the invention, arranged for use in erecting a vertical wall;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a concrete-re- 0 taining plate suitable for use as a part of molds according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a portion of the structure on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a detail side elevation illustrating a wedged butt plate arrangement for extending the height of the mold framework;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section on the line 88 of Fig.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section on the line 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section on the line Iii-Ill of Fig. 1.

In the following specification and claims the expressions inwardly, outwardly, inner and outer are used to indicate directions or positions of parts of the mold structure with respect to the mold space into which the concrete is poured, except where a contrary use of such words is clearly indicated by the context.

The said mold space, for this purpose, is considered to be at the innermost part of the mold.

Molds according to my invention consist generally of a plurality of plates I0 for defining the surface of a poured concrete wall and a framework for supporting said plates in a proper position to receive the newly mixed concrete in order to hold it in position while the concrete dries and hardens.

This framework, in the form of the invention illustrated herein, consists of a plurality of upright members I I which may be I-shaped in cross-section, and may be secured and held in their desired relative positions by means of horlzontally disposed stringers I2 which are secured to the several upright members at the top and' bottom portions thereof.

The means provided for securely fastening together the upright members I I and the stringers 52 are very simple and make it possible to erect the framework with a minimum expenditure of labor. These means comprise yokes I3 which may be welded or otherwise firmly secured to the web Ila of the upright member I I, one of said yokes at the top of the upright extending longitudinally beyond the upper end thereof, and other similar yokes extending laterally outwardly from the upright member at the upper and lower ends thereof, openings I4 being provided in the flange Nb of the upright member to permit the yokes to extend through and beyond the outer surfaces of said flanges. A series of slots I5 are provided at a plurality of suitable points along the length of the webs I2a of the stringers I2, these slots preferably extending laterally relatively to said web and being adapted to permit the several yokes I3 toextend through and beyond the said webs I2a, sufficiently to permit the insertion of wedges I5 into the yokes in order to securely hold together the upright members I I and the stringers I2 at the top and bottom of the framework.

The wedges I6 may be cut or punched from fiat metal stock and are preferably slightly curved from end to end, this curvature contributing to a very effective engagement between the wedge and the webs l2a against which the inner edges of the wedges will press to hold the stringers in intimate engagement with the upright members.

It is, of course, understood that, in constructing upright concrete walls, the mold must comprise at least two sides to enclose both sides of the area into which the concrete is to be poured; also that it is necessary to provide uniform rela- ,of the cross-tie.

yield a wall of a desired uniform thickness. To this end I provide cross strips I! which may be placed across the surface upon which the wall is to be erected before the molds are set into place. These strips may be disposed to rest upon wooden sills 18 which may be placed in a longitudinal position relatively to the surface upon which the wall is to rest. The frameworks of uprights and stringers of two side mold sections, after being assembled, may be placed in vertical positions in their proper relationship, having regard to the thickness of the wall to be erected. Spikes or nails 19 may then be driven through holes He in the cross-strips l1, and into the wooden sills l8; said nails, however, being left extending sufficiently above the top surfaces of the said cross strips'that they will engage the outer edges of the lower flanges 12b of the lower stringers I2 whereby to limit the possible outward shifting of said stringers in accordance with the desired thickness of the wall, 7 It will be understood that there is little likelihood of the several sides of the mold shifting toward each other at the bottom of the mold, as the weight of the framework and the weight and bulk of the concrete which may be poured into the mold, between the sides thereof, will prevent any such inward shifting.

For establishing and maintaining the proper positioning oi' the upper portions of the two side mold sections relatively to each other, I provide a plurality of'cross-ties 20, one of which is shown in Fig. 1 and a portion thereof is shown in detail in Fig. 3. These cross-ties may be of flat metal bent angularly at one end to form a flange 20a which is adapted to extend downwardly along the side of. the outside flange I227 of an upper stringer [2. An angle bracket 2| may be welded or otherwise secured to the underside of the crosstie 20 in such a position that its depending flange will be spaced apart from the flange 29a of the cross-tie, and that the cross-tie may be placed .over and about the stringer l2 on one side mold section and may be restrained against lateral movement relatively to the said stringer by the intimate engagement therewith of the depending flange of the angle bracket. 21 and the flange 28a A slot 20b is provided nearthe flanged end of the cross-tie, through which slot a yoke l3 at the upper end of an upright, member ll may extend upwardly to permit the insertion of a wedge l6 thereinto to securely wedge together the upper stringer [2, the cross-tie 20,iand the top of the upright member H on one side section of the mold. The cross-tie 20 is preferably provided, near its other end, with a plurality of similar slots I 231 for selectively receiving a yoke l3 to permit a wedging together of the upright, the stringer and the'cross-tie on the opposite side of the mold. The provision of a plurality of slots 28b near one end of the cross-tie 20, which slots may be selectively employed, permits the use of the same cross-tie in various assemblies for erecting walls of a variety of thicknesses. W

Iprovide means for fastening a stay at the top of the .frameworktohold it erectQsaid means preferably-being a stay bracket 22, having'a flat portion with a slot'22a therein to permit said portion to be placed across the top of aside section of the framework with a yoke l3, at the top of an upright ll, extending through said slot to freceive a; wedge I6 whereby the stay bracketis fixed in or on the ground near the framework.

If the framework is being assembled, and is to be used at a distance above the ground, the lower end of the stay 23 may be secured to a scaffold or other structure which, in any event, would be requisite to carrying out the concrete-pouring operation. The stay 23 may be of wood, steel or other suitable material.

The yokes i3 at the top of the upright members II are ofsufiicient length that they may extend through slots in the top stringer 2, a cross-tie 28, and a stay bracket 22, and yet protrude sufliciently to receive a wedge for holding the assemblage together. Ordinarily a cross-tie and stay bracket need not be used at the same upright and in some circumstances the yoke 13 would extend through only a stringer. The wedges, however, may be suitably proportioned to function with any of the several arrangements referred to.

The framework of a mold for concrete is subjected to severe strains, whenin use, tending to cause the mold to bulge outwardly under the weight of the wet concrete mass as it is poured,

the effect of the weight being accentuated by the,

the finished walls and I therefore provide tie rods.

24 which may be extended through the mold space between opposite upright members and through holes 25 in the flanges lib of said upright members. A slotted wedge 26 and wooden blocks 21 may be wedged between the'upright members I l and a knob 24a on the end of the tie rod 24 to tension the latter in a manner well known in the art whereby to prevent objectionable bulging of the framework. Tie rods 24 may be employed at a plurality of cross sections of the framework, the number and positioning of the said tie rods depending largely upon the lateral stresses anticipated from the weight and pouring of the wet concrete.

Each of the plates 18 for space and retaining the concrete. while it hardens comprises principally a body portion 28 of such width that it will closely fit between inner flanges.

llb of two upright members H, the side edges of said body portion substantially abutting the edges of said flanges, as best seen in Fig. 4. Means are provided on the body portion 281601 locking the plate into position between the uprights.

I provide an elongated locking member 29, prefportion to form a groove'29a along the top edge of the plate and with a horizontal flange of the look:

ing member 29 extending outwardly from said body portion. V

The ends of the said horizontal flange extend beyond the sides of the body portion of the plate "and thus, when'positioned in the framework, they extend into the longitudinal recesses in the 1- shaped upright members I i abutting each side of the plate. The ends of the said horizontal flange definingv the mold are shaped at their inner edges to provide inner faces 2% which engage the inside surfaces of the inner flanges Nb of the adjacent upright members l 5 whereby to limit the inward movement of the plates and to maintain the concrete-engaging surfaces of the plate in substantially the same plane as the inner surfaces of the said upright members.

I also provide slots 39 which are cut in the outer side of the horizontal flanges of the locking member 29 at points near each end thereof, these slots being so disposed that wedges 3| may be forced into said slots and into intimate engagement with the inside surface of the outer flanges Nb of the uprights as at 32 so that when said wedges are forced into place in the slots 353, the top portion of the plate B9 is rigidly locked in its proper position between the uprights adjacent the sides of the plate to enable it to perform its intended function as a part of the mold.

Where the plates are quite large, an auxiliary locking member 36, similar in form to locking member 29, may be secured in a horizontal position toward the center of the outer surface of the plate, as best seen in Fig. 2. This additional locking member, being locked within the recesses in the adjacent upright members, serves to prevent the plate from bulging which might otherwise result from the heavy outward pressure of the wet concrete against the plate.

As previously remarked, the locking member 29 extends somewhat above the body portion 28 of the plate, thus forming a groove 29a along the top thereof. This groove, as best seen in Figs. 2 and 6, is of suitable dimensions to receive. a lower horizontal edge of a similar plate It, and thus retain the bottom of the latter plate against ou ward displacement relatively to the framework.

To prevent displacement of the bottom of the plate it inwardly with relation to the framework, I provide lugs 33 which may be welded or otherwise secured to the outer face of the body portion 28 of the. plate in a position to extend substantially horizontally beyond the side edges of said body portion. The extending portions of these lugs are adapted to engage the inside surface of the inner flange .1 lb of the upright, thus preventing the inward displacement of the plate.

It will be observed, from the foregoing, that the top of each plate is prevented from either inward or outward displacement by the. locking member 29 which is wedged between the inside surfaces of opposite flanges of the upright members while the lower portion of the plate is limited against inward displacement by the lugs 33 and against outward displacement by its disposition within the groove 29a along the top edge of the next lower plate. The plates along the bottom of the molds will, of course, have. no lower plate to coact with them to restrain them against outward displace ment, but such displacement may be prevented by blocks 34 which may be placed between the bottom stringers l2 and the lower portions of the lowermost plates in the structure, as best seen in Fig. 10.

The plates I 0 are preferably of such size and weight that they may be conveniently handled in erecting and dismantling a mold. To facilitate the. handling of these plates, holes 35 may be provided in the horizontal flanges of the locking members 2%? and also eyelets 33 may be welded to the outer side of the body portion 28. Either the holes 35 or the eyelets 35 are adapted to receive hooks which may be used in lifting the plates from place in dismantling the. form after the concrete wall has hardened.

If it should be desired toerect a wall higher than the height of the particular molds which are available, the said molds may be extended upwardly by strapping additional uprights upon the original uprights in a manner illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. Two uprights which are to be spliced together may be brought into abutting vertical positions and a channel-shaped butt strap 31 may be disposed in intimate contact with the outside surfaces of the abutting uprights and with the flanges of said butt strap extending inwardly to contact and maintain in line the edges of the outer flanges of each of said abutting upright members, the butt strap, of course, being provided with slots l5 through which the side yokes it? at the bottom and top respectively of the upper and lower abutting uprights may extend and into which yokes may be forced wedges it, as best seen in Figs. 7 and 9. Where the uprights are built up in this fashion the top stringers 52 will, of course, be disposed along the top of the uppermost uprights. With this arrangement, the inner surfaces of the built-up uprights are in a continuous common plane and the plates ill may be disposed between said uprights to form a substantially continuous concrete-retaining surface extending substantially to the full height of the uprights.

It will be observed that the only tool ordinarily needed to assemble the framework and the complete mold is a hammer which may be used to force the several wedges l6 into place. It is also important to note that each side section of the frame work may be assembled on the ground and then lifted into a substantially vertical position after which it may be suitably joined and spaced with relation to another similar side framework to complete the mold. While the framework itself without regard to the plates is a substantially rigid structure, it becomes even more rigid and of ample strength to perform its intended function when the several plates if? have been set and locked into position.

The several parts of the molds described herein may preferably be formed of structural steel, except the wooden sills IS, the stay or stays 23 and the blocks 21 and 34, which specifically recited portions may be of wood or other suitable material.

It should be understood that my invention may be used in supports or molds for concrete construction other than vertical walls and that in such other construction it may be necessary to employ only one of the side sections referred to herein. The invention is not limited to the particular form described and illustrated in this application but a Variety of forms may be employed which, while somewhat different from those described and illustrated, may nevertheless employ my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Molds for concrete walls and the like comprising a plurality of concrete-retaining plates, a framework for supporting said plates and means for securing the plates to the framework, said means comprising longitudinal recesses in the sides of substantially parallel framework members, outwardly extending flanges on the plates extending into said recesses and means for locking said flanges against substantial movement within said recesses, said latter means comprising surfaces on inner sides of said flanges engaging inside surfaces of said recesses to limit the inward displacement of the plates, open slots in outer sides of said flanges and wedges disposed in said slots, coacting therewith and with inside surfaces of said recesses to limit the outward displacement of the plates. 7

'2. Molds according to claim 1 in which the locking means, at opposite ends of each' plate, coact to restrain such plate against endwise shifting.

3. Molds for concrete walls and the like comprising a plurality of substantially parallel I- shaped upright members, a plurality of substantially horizontal stringers substantially rigidly connecting said members with theflanges of the latter substantially parallel with the mold space, a plurality of concrete-retaining plates disposed between and substantially abutting the inner flanges of adjacent upright members, the plates and said inner flanges providing a substantially plane surface defined by the inner sides of said plates and of the flanges of the upright members for retaining the concrete, and means for locking said plates against dislodgment, said means comprising horizontal flange portions on the plates, extending into longitudinal recesses in the said upright members, inner surfaces of said portions engaging inside surfaces of said recesses, open slots in outer sides of said portions and wedges, disposed in said slots, and engaging inside surfaces of said recesses.

4. Molds for concretewalls and the like comprising a plurality'of plates, each having a body and locking portions, a plurality of substantially upright members of a framework for supporting said plates, said members having longitudinal recesses in the sides thereof, and means for mounting a plurality of said plates between such uprights disposed at opposite side edges of the plates, said meanswith respect to each of said plates comprising an elongated lockingelement fixed to the outer side of the body of the plate with a portion extending above the upper edge thereof to form a groove along the top of the plate, a substantially horizontal flange on said element having a locking portion on one end thereof extending beyond the body of said plate and into one of said recesses a wedge disposed between said locking portion and an inside surface of said recess, a lug fixed to the outerside of a lower portion of the bodyof the plate and 7 extending beyond a side edge thereof and engaging an inner inside surface of one of said recesses. to limit inward movement of the lower portion of the plate, the bottom edge and the adjacent portion of one plate being disposed within the said groove along the top of the next lowerplate whereby to restrain the bottom of the form'- er plate against outward movement.

5. Molds according to claim fl, wherein the said flanges extend substantially over the en-- tire width of the plate whereby to strengthen it.

6. Molds according to claim 4, wherein the plate has a plurality of similar locking elements disposed at different heights on the body of the plate, said elements each having flanges extending substantially over the entire width of the Y tending angularly relatively to said body and beyond an outer edge thereof and having an end portion adapted to extend into one of such recesses and to be wedged against substantial movement therewithin, and means on a lower portion of said body and extending beyond a side edge thereof and adapted to extend into one of such recesses, said means being adapted to coact with a parallel frame member to restrain the lower portion of the plate against displacement inone direction and the bottom edge of the plate being adapted to coact with the top edge of a similar plate to restrain the lower portion of the former plate against displacement in an opposite direc-- tion.

8. A plate according to claim '7 wherein the 'said'end portion of the locking element has a .slot adapted to receive a wedgefor restraining the said locking element against substantial movement within the ooacting recess of an adjacent frame member.

9. A concrete-retaining plate for use in'molds having substantially parallel frame members with longitudinal recesses in the sides thereof, said plate comprising a body having a plurality of elongated locking elements on one side thereof, said elements having flange portions extending beyond opposite edges of the body in planes substantially perpendicular to the normal plane of the said body, and being adapted to extend within such recesses and to be wedged against substantial movement therewithin, V

10. Wedges, for use in molds of the character described, said wedges comprising a body portion having substantially similar wedging surfaces on opposite sides thereof, said surfaces being defined by curved side edges whereby to afford a broader engagement with an adjacent surface than the breadth of saidwedging surface and being adapted to exert force in substantially op- 

